Bayern Munich's Italian World Cup winner Luca Toni struck twice as the German giants went seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win over title rivals Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayern took an early lead on 17 minutes as Germany forward Miroslav Klose passed back into the five-yard box for Toni to rifle home his 15th league goal of the season.
And Toni struck again on 59 minutes to put the game beyond doubt when he headed home defender Philipp Lahm's spectacular cross to put him on 26 goals for the season in all competitions.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The Italian is now the league's top scorer with 16 goals.
Bayer hit a late consolation goal through Russian striker Dmitriy Bulykin on 83 minutes.
Second-placed Hamburg are now seven points behind Bayern after they slipped to a 1-1 draw with VfL Wolfsburg.
Defender Bastian Reinhardt headed home a Piotr Trochowski pass on 14 minutes to put Hamburg ahead, but Wolfsburg striker Danijel Ljuboja equalized in the second half to share the points.
Defending champions VfB Stuttgart are on the verge of breaking into the top five -- and a place in Europe next season -- as they beat Hansa Rostock 4-1.
Mexican midfielder Pavel Pardo opened the scoring with a second-half penalty before Brazilian striker Cacau put Stuttgart 2-0 ahead.
Rostock pulled a goal back as striker Mario Gomez turned the ball into his own net, before making amends with a goal of his own as midfielder Yildiray Bastuerk added the fourth.
German Cup finalists Borussia Dortmund shared a point in their battle to stay away from the relegation zone when they drew 1-1 with mid-table Karslruhe.
Croatian striker Mladen Petric's 12th league goal of the season put Dortmund ahead before Sebastian Freis equalized.
And mid-table Hanover were held 1-1 by bottom side Duisburg.
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